Background: Inflammation is a typical manifestation of sepsis related acute renal injury. AQP2 is considered to play an important role in renal fluid transport. This study aims to explore whether rhein has a protective effect on renal injury and its potential mechanism. Methods: A sepsis rat model of acute renal injury was established. 60 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, high rhein (200mg/kg), medium rhein (100mg/kg), low dose rhein (50mg/kg) and dexamethasone group. Observe the general condition of rats and detect serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and TNF – α, IL-1 β, IL-10 expression; H&E staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of rat kidney; Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression of AQP2 in renal tissue: Western Blot method was used to detect the changes of protein expression of AQP2, NF-KB, P-NF-KB, IKB-α,P- IKB-α in renal tissue. Results: Compared with the control group, the levels of serum Scr, BUN and TNF- α, IL-1 β,and the level of IL-10 was significantly increased. There were obvious swelling of renal tubules, necrosis and abscission of epithelial cells of renal tubules, edema of renal interstitium, infiltration of inflammatory cells and other pathological damages in renal tissues; Compared with the model group, the rat serum Scr, BUN levels, TNF- α, IL-1β and the level of IL-10 was significantly reduced, and the pathological damage of renal tissue was significantly reduced. Conclusion: Rhein can reduce the inflammatory reaction, increase the expression of AQP2, and improve the acute renal injury in septic rats.

Chao Liu, Nannan Song, Rui Yao, Xiaoju Zhang, Xiaojing Dong and Feng Li. Rhein Improves Sepsis Rats by Reducing Inflammatory Reaction and Regulating AQP2 Acute Renal Injury. International Journal of Health and Pharmaceutical Medicine (2023), Vol. 4, Issue 1: 156-163. https://doi.org/10.38007/IJHPM.2023.040116.

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